After a long and adventurous winter season it’s time to pack away your skis in the cellar and get your bike out. A quick maintenance check at the sports shop of your choice and the bike season 2019 can finally get started.

My friends and I have agreed on the 1,962 m high Griessenkareck in Wagrain as our destination of the day. The Bike Park in Wagrain in picturesque Salzburgerland offers a varied playground for beginners as well as exceptionally gifted downhillers with its eight different trails. The Flying Mozart Cable Car, leading from Kirchboden in Wagrain over two sections to the Griessenkareck  is open from June and offers a comfortable ascent.

We purchase a half day pass at the lift ticket office and decide to travel up just as far as the mid-station. After a long winter break we start off gently on the blue On Air Trail. The flowing single trail created by digger is nice and wide and offers great conditions to get back into freeriding again. Thanks to the so-called “chicken ways“ we can simply detour the first obstacles. On the lower part of the trail the On Air Trail flows into the Lillys Treat. This trail is narrower and somewhat more difficult than the On Air, but still suitable for beginners.

Arriving back at the valley station, we look forward to the break to catch our breath whilst travelling back up on the cable car. This time we travel right up to the top to one of the highlights of the park, created in 2015, the Hard Rock Trail. On the 3.7 km long red trail the name says it all. On the windy upper part waves, pump sections and jumps await. The lower part of the trail is on the other hand a natural single trail with lots of roots.

After conquering so many altitude metres we’re feeling more at home on our bikes and dare to undertake the various black trail routes with great sounding names, such as R’NB Nortshore or Memories. The Angry Ants Trail turns out to be a real treat – a single trail covered in roots with a direct fall line downhill.

As if on cue, our stomachs begin to rumble towards the end of our bike adventure and we stop at the Berggasthof Kogelalm before our last descent. Along the Bike Park there are five alpine huts and restaurants open for refreshment during the summer season. Before heading home after our last run, we make use of the expansive bike wash area by the valley station of Flying Mozart Cable Car.

By the way: The Flying Mozart Cable Car will be replaced by a modern and high-capacity 10-seater cable car in two years time, therefore the park is closed in summer 2020. So, ensure you make the most of the 2019 season. 

Photo credits: Snow Space Salzburg, Simon Guggi